Cable stay



March 21, 1967 D. H. GlNTZ ETAL CABLE STAY Filed April 12, 1965 INVENTORS DAVlD H. GINTZ EDWARD W. MESSMER STANLEY MIODUS 3,309,745 CABLE STAY David H. Gintz, Edward W. Messmer, and Stanley Miodus, Erie, Pa., assignors' to'Plant Service Corporation, Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 447,431

4 Claims. (Cl. 24129) This invention relates to supports and, more particularly, to supports for attaching electrical wires to a building, pole, or other support.

The support disclosed herein constitutes an improvement over prior devices of this class.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved support for electrical wires.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved support which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efi'icient to use.

With the above and other objects inview, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the support according to the invention attached to a building;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the support according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the support according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similiarto FIG. 3 showing the support and an electrical conducting wire laced through the slots and recesses of the stay; and

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a stay comprising another embodiment of the invention.

Now with more particular reference to the drawing, the support or bracket shown may be referred to as a stay and has especially utility in attaching electrical conductor wires to buildings, poles, and other supports. The say is basically made up of an elongated body having a lug 18 attached to one end with laterally extending slots 22, 23, 1 22, and 123 extending more than half Way through the body. At least one of the'slots extendsin from one side and another slot adjacent thereto extends in from the other side more than half way to the other so that an electrical wire can be inserted in the slots in the manner shown with the center of the wire generally coextensive with the axial center line'of the stay. The body can be made of one integral piece with the lug attached integrally to one end. It could be injection molded from a suitable plastic material, such as, for example, nylon and the nylon could be filled with glass fiber to provide greater strength and rigidity.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing, the elongated body 10 has the lug 18 integrally attached to one end. The body has two fiat sides 14 and 15 disposed parallel to each other. The body also has two flat edges 16 and 17 disposed parallel to each other and at right angles to the sides 14 and 15 and parallel to the longitudinal axis 38 of the body. The body is generally rectangular in cross section and defined by the fiat edges 16 and 17 and the flat sides 14 and 15.. The body terminates in the flat end 31.

The lug 18 is considerably thinner than the body and it has'two sides 19 and 20 which are disposed in planes generally parallel to the fiat sides 14 and 15. The lug 18 is radiused at 32 where it joins to the body to provide a pleasing appearance and a rigid design and to prevent United States Patent 0 a stress concentration at this point. The hole 21 is formed in the lug.

Slots 22 and 23 are formed in the body that extend from opposite sides therefrom as shown. The slots are referred to as first slots 22 and second slots 23. The first slots 22 extend into the body from one side past the center line 38 a distance greater than half the diameter of wire 36 and the second slots 23 extend into the body from the opposite thereof past the center line 38 a distance greater than half the diameter of wire 36. The first slots 22 are made up of first slot elements 24 and the second slot elements 25. The second slots 23 are made of first elements 26 and second elements 27. The first slots are referred to as first slot means and the second slots as second slot means. Thus, the first slot means and the second slot means can each be made up of a single slot or a plurality of slots.

One of the first slots 22 is disposed adjacent the lug and another is disposed on the opposite side of one of the second slots 23. It will be noted that the first slot element 24 of the first slots 22 extends at an acute angle to the flat edge 16 and the first element 26 of the second slots 23 extends at an acute angle to the flat edge 17.

First recesses 28 are formed between the first slot 22 adjacent the lug and the second slot 23 adjacent thereto. Second recess means indicated at 29 are formed between the second slot 23 and the next first slot 22 and, likewise, another recess indicated at 28 is formed between the next first slot 22 adjacent the end 31 and the next second slot 23 adjacent thereto. A recess 35 extends from the second slot 23 adjacent the end 31 to the end thereof. The recesses 28 and 35 are of a depth equal to at least half the diameter of wire 36.

It will be noted from FIG. 4 that the conductor wire 36 may be laced through the recess 35 and into second slot 23 by sliding it into first element 26, then through first recess 28 and into first slot 22 passing through the recess on the opposite sides thereof. Thus, with the conductor wire 36 laced through the stay as shown, it will be rigidly held in position.

It will be noted that the bottoms of the slots at 37 are radiused to conform generally to the circumference of the wire and that the wires overlay each other; that is, extend beyond the center of the stay a distance greater than halfthe diameter of the wire so that the conductor wire will lie in a straight line as it passes through the stay and be disposed adjacent the central axis 38 of the body.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the body is similar in configuration to the body shown in the first four figures; however, the lug 118 is attached to the side of the body between the first slot 122 and the second slot123. Recesses 128 are formed in one side of the body and a similar recess will be formed between second slots 123 and first slots 122 at the center as in the other embodiment of the invention. A similar recess is formed in the end. The edges 116 will be generally parallel to the edges 117 and, likewise, the sides 114 will be generally parallel to the sides 115.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification Within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel and is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A stay comprising an elongated body having a first side and a second side,

a center line,

a first and a second edge,

two spaced first slots extending inward from said first edge past said center line,

and means to attach said stay to a building,

two spaced second slots formed in said body and extending from the said second edge past said center line,

one said first slot being disposed between two said second slots,

one said second slot being disposed between two said first slots,

a recess in one said first side between a said first and a said second slot,

a recess in said second side between a said first and a said second slot,

said first slots and said second slots each terminating in a slot portion inclined toward said means to attach said stay to a building.

2. A cable stay comprising an elongated body having a lug integrally attached to one end,

said body having two flat sides disposed parallel to each other and two fiat edges disposed parallel to each other and disposed generally perpendicular to said flat sides and parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof,

said flat sides and flat edges defining said elongated body,

said elongated body being generally rectangular in cross section,

said lug being substantially thinner than said elongated body and having two fiat sides,

said fiat sides of said lug being disposed in planes generally parallel to said sides of said elongated body,

means on said lug for attaching said lug to a support,

first slot means in said body,

and second slot means in said body,

said first slot means extending from said first said flat edge more than half way toward the center of said elongated body,

said second slot means extending from said second fiat edge of said elongated body more than half way toward the said first fiat edge,

said first slot means has a first slot element and a second slot element therein, 1

said second slot means having a first element and a second element therein,

said first slot element of said first slot means being disposed at an acute angle to said first fiat edge of said elongated body and extending away from said lug,

said second slot element means of said first slot element being disposed at approximately right angles to said first fiat edge,

said first element of said second slot means being disposed at an acute angle to said second fiat edge and extending in a direction away from said lug,

said first slot means comprises two slots extending from one said fiat side to the other,

and said second slot means comprises two slots extending from one said fiat side to the other,

one said first slot means being adjacent said lug and the other between said two slots comprising said second slot means,

one slot comprising said second slot means being disposed adjacent the end of said elongated body remote from said lug,

a first recess is formed in said elongated body from said first slot adjacent said lug to the said second slot adjacent thereto,

and a second recess is formed in said elongated body on the opposite side of said elongated body from said first recess,

said second recess extending from said second slot to another said first slot.

3. A cable stay comprising an elongated body having a lug integrally attached to one end,

said body having two fiat sides disposed parallel to each other and two fiat edges disposed parallel to each other and disposed generally perpendicular to said flat sides and parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof,

said flat sides and flat edges defining said elongated body,

said elongated body being generally rectangular in cross section,

said lug being substantially thinner than said elongated body and having two fiat sides,

said fiat sides of said lug being disposed in planes generally parallel to said sides of said elongated body,

means on said lug for attaching said lug to a support,

first slot means in said body,

and second slot means in said body,

said first slot means extending from said first said fiat edge more than half way toward the center of said elongated body,

said second slot means extending from said second fiat edge of said elongated body more than half way toward the said first fiat edge,

said first slot means has a first slot element and a second slot element therein,

said second slot means having a first element and a second element therein,

said first slot element of said first slot means being disposed at an acute angle to said first fiat edge of said elongated body and extending away from said said second slot element means of said first slot element being disposed at approximately right angles to said first fiat edge,

said first element of said second slot means being disposed at an acute angle to said second fiat edge and extending in a direction away from said lug,

said portion of said elongated body on said first fiat side between said first slot means and said second slot means being recessed, providing a surface generally parallel to said first flat side and extending from said first slot means to said second slot means.

4. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein a recess is formed in said body between said first slot and said second slot,

said recess having a depth greater than half the lateral dimension of said conductor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 590,591 9/1897 Purdy 24129 X 1,009,808 11/ 1911 Truesdell 24-129 1,860,170 5/1932 Bronson 24--198 2,283,544 5/1942 Eaton. 2,309,971 2/1943 McLarn 339- X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,350,091 12/1963 France.

20,752 10/ 1901 Great Britain. 457,330 11/ 1936 Great Britain.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A STAY COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BODY HAVING A FIRST SIDE AND A SECOND SIDE, A CENTER LINE, A FIRST AND A SECOND EDGE, TWO SPACED FIRST SLOTS EXTENDING INWARD FROM SAID FIRST EDGE PAST SAID CENTER LINE, AND MEANS TO ATTACH SAID STAY TO A BUILDING, TWO SPACED SECOND SLOTS FORMED IN SAID BODY AND EXTENDING FROM THE SAID SECOND EDGE PAST SAID CENTER LINE, ONE SAID FIRST SLOT BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN TWO SAID SECOND SLOTS, ONE SAID SECOND SLOT BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN TWO SAID FIRST SLOTS, A RECESS IN ONE SAID FIRST SIDE BETWEEN A SAID FIRST AND A SAID SECOND SLOT, A RECESS IN SAID SECOND SIDE BETWEEN A SAID FIRST AND A SAID SECOND SLOT, SAID FIRST SLOTS AND SAID SECOND SLOTS EACH TERMINATING IN A SLOT PORTION INCLINED TOWARD SAID MEANS TO ATTACH SAID STAY TO A BUILDING. 